Abstract: An intervertebral prosthesis includes a body having first and second spaced apart major surfaces defining a longitudinal axis; a first aperture opening at one of the first and second major surfaces; a first anchoring element including a shaft having proximal and distal ends; a translator element coupled to the proximal end of the first anchoring element and having an engagement element that is releasibly engageable with a distal end of an external shaft element that enters the body through an aperture. The shaft element applies forces to the translator to: (i) move along a longitudinal axis within the body, (ii) translate the proximal end of the first anchoring element parallel to the longitudinal axis, and (iii) push the first anchoring element out through the first aperture.

Abstract: An intervertebral prosthesis includes: a body including first and second spaced apart major surfaces defining a longitudinal axis extending substantially normal to said surfaces and at least anterior and posterior sidewalls extending therebetween, the first and second major surfaces for engaging endplates of first and second vertebral bones of a spine; an aperture extending from within the body, transversely to the longitudinal axis, and opening at a major surface; an anchoring element disposed within the aperture and including a threaded shaft; and a gear disposed adjacent to and in meshed, threaded communication with the threaded shaft of the anchoring element such that rotation of the gear causes rotation of the anchoring element, and a driving rotational force on the gear causes the anchoring element to rotate, deploy from the body, and thread into a vertebral bone transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body.

Abstract: An intervertebral prosthesis includes a body having first and second spaced apart major surfaces defining a longitudinal axis; a first aperture opening at one of the first and second major surfaces; a first anchoring element including a shaft having proximal and distal ends; a translator element coupled to the proximal end of the first anchoring element and having an engagement element that is releasibly engageable with a distal end of an external shaft element that enters the body through an aperture. The shaft element applies forces to the translator to: (i) move along a longitudinal axis within the body, (ii) translate the proximal end of the first anchoring element parallel to the longitudinal axis, and (iii) push the first anchoring element out through the first aperture.

Abstract: A method includes: making a first incision in a patient defining a first lateral direction to a first lateral side of the patient's spine; inserting an intervertebral prosthesis through the first incision and into an intervertebral space of the spine in the first lateral direction; locating the intervertebral prosthesis between an endplate of a first vertebral bone of a spine, and an endplate of an adjacent, second vertebral bone of the spine; closing the first incision; making a second incision in the patient defining a second lateral direction to a second lateral side of the patient's spine, opposite to the first direction and the first lateral side; reversing the locating of the intervertebral prosthesis from the endplate of the first vertebral bone of the spine, and from the endplate of the adjacent, second vertebral bone of the spine; removing the intervertebral prosthesis from the intervertebral space of the spine from the second lateral direction and out through the second incision; and closing the sec

Abstract: A method includes: making a first incision in a patient defining a first lateral direction to a first lateral side of the patient's spine; inserting an intervertebral prosthesis through the first incision and into an intervertebral space of the spine in the first lateral direction; locating the intervertebral prosthesis between an endplate of a first vertebral bone of a spine, and an endplate of an adjacent, second vertebral bone of the spine; closing the first incision; making a second incision in the patient defining a second lateral direction to a second lateral side of the patient's spine, opposite to the first direction and the first lateral side; reversing the locating of the intervertebral prosthesis from the endplate of the first vertebral bone of the spine, and from the endplate of the adjacent, second vertebral bone of the spine; removing the intervertebral prosthesis from the intervertebral space of the spine from the second lateral direction and out through the second incision; and closing the sec

Abstract: An intervertebral prosthesis includes: a body; a first aperture extending from within the body and opening; a first anchoring element disposed within the first aperture and including a shaft having proximal and distal ends, where the proximal end of the first anchoring element includes a first portion of a first articulation mechanism; and a drive mechanism having: (i) a threaded shaft defining a longitudinal axis thereof and a head at a proximal end of the threaded shaft, (ii) a translator element having a threaded bore in threaded engagement with the threaded shaft.

Abstract: An intervertebral prosthesis includes: a body; a first aperture extending from within the body and opening; a first anchoring element disposed within the first aperture and including a shaft having proximal and distal ends, where the proximal end of the first anchoring element includes a first portion of a first articulation mechanism; and a drive mechanism having: (i) a threaded shaft defining a longitudinal axis thereof and a head at a proximal end of the threaded shaft, (ii) a translator element having a threaded bore in threaded engagement with the threaded shaft, and a coupling element having a corresponding second portion of the first articulation mechanism, where the first and second portions of the first articulation mechanism engage one another such that the first anchoring element articulates relative to the a translator element.

Abstract: An intervertebral prosthesis includes: a body; at least three apertures extending from within the body; at least three anchoring elements disposed within the at least three apertures; and a drive mechanism operating to simultaneously push the at least three anchoring elements out through the apertures, where: a first deployment direction of a first of the anchoring elements includes: (i) a first substantial directional component in one of an anterior and posterior direction of the body; and (ii) a second substantial directional component parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body; a second deployment direction of a second of the anchoring elements includes: (i) a first substantial directional component in one of an anterior and posterior direction of the body; and (ii) a second substantial directional component parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body and opposite to the second substantial directional component of the first deployment direction of the first anchoring element; and the drive mechanism o

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting an intervertebral prosthesis within a spine of a mammal includes: a handle including a drive nut operating to produce rotational torque in response to user-input about a central axis; a first drive shaft including a proximal end in communication with the drive nut, receiving rotational torque therefrom, and imparting rotational torque to the first drive shaft about a first axis, which is laterally offset from the central axis; and a distal end of the first drive shaft including a first drive head; and a chuck disposed at a distal end of the tool for engaging the intervertebral prosthesis during implantation, wherein the first drive shaft extends through the chuck and the first drive head engages a first gear of the intervertebral prosthesis, such that rotation of the first gear causes rotation and deployment of a first anchoring element of the intervertebral prosthesis.

Abstract: A method of inserting an intervertebral prosthesis into an intervertebral space between respective endplates of adjacent first and second vertebral bones of a spine, includes: placing the intervertebral prosthesis into the intervertebral space, the intervertebral prosthesis including: a body including first and second spaced apart major surfaces and at least one sidewall extending therebetween, the first major surface for engaging the endplate of the first vertebral bone, and the second major surface for engaging the endplate of the second vertebral bone, and the first and second major surfaces defining a longitudinal axis extending substantially normal to said surfaces; and simultaneously pushing at least three anchoring elements from within the body of the intervertebral prosthesis out through at least three respective apertures in the body and into at least one of the first and second vertebral bones, without rotating the at least one anchoring element about an axis thereof.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for inserting an implant into an intervertebral cavity between adjacent vertebral bodies provide for: adjust an initial height between inner surfaces of respective first and second ramps of an inserter; simultaneously sliding first and second ramps of the inserter, and the implant, proximally, toward distal ends of the first and second ramps, such that the vertebral contact surfaces of the respective first and second ramps separate and distract the vertebral bodies and receive the implant into the intervertebral space with no compressive loading, while holding an initial angle between the ramps substantially constant.

Abstract: A method of inserting an intervertebral prosthesis into an intervertebral space between respective endplates of adjacent first and second vertebral bones of a spine, includes: placing the intervertebral prosthesis into the intervertebral space, the intervertebral prosthesis including: a body including first and second spaced apart major surfaces and at least one sidewall extending therebetween, the first major surface for engaging the endplate of the first vertebral bone, and the second major surface for engaging the endplate of the second vertebral bone, and the first and second major surfaces defining a longitudinal axis extending substantially normal to said surfaces; and simultaneously pushing at least three anchoring elements from within the body of the intervertebral prosthesis out through at least three respective apertures in the body and into at least one of the first and second vertebral bones, without rotating the at least one anchoring element about an axis thereof.

Abstract: A prosthesis includes: a body including a first major surface for engaging an endplate of a first vertebral bone of a spine, a second major surface for engaging an endplate of an adjacent, second vertebral bone of the spine; at least one aperture extending from within the body and opening at the first major surface; at least one anchoring element disposed within the aperture and including a shaft having proximal and distal ends; and a drive mechanism engaging the proximal end of the at least one anchoring element and operating to push the at least one anchoring element out through the at least one aperture and into the first vertebral bone, without rotating the at least one anchoring element about an axis thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting an intervertebral prosthesis within a spine of a mammal includes: a handle including a drive nut operating to produce rotational torque in response to user-input about a central axis; a first drive shaft including a proximal end in communication with the drive nut, receiving rotational torque therefrom, and imparting rotational torque to the first drive shaft about a first axis, which is laterally offset from the central axis; and a distal end of the first drive shaft including a first drive head; and a chuck disposed at a distal end of the tool for engaging the intervertebral prosthesis during implantation, wherein the first drive shaft extends through the chuck and the first drive head engages a first gear of the intervertebral prosthesis, such that rotation of the first gear causes rotation and deployment of a first anchoring element of the intervertebral prosthesis.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for inserting an implant into an intervertebral cavity between adjacent vertebral bodies provide for: adjust an initial height between inner surfaces of respective first and second ramps of an inserter; simultaneously sliding first and second ramps of the inserter, and the implant, proximally, toward distal ends of the first and second ramps, such that the vertebral contact surfaces of the respective first and second ramps separate and distract the vertebral bodies and receive the implant into the intervertebral space with no compressive loading, while holding an initial angle between the ramps substantially constant.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for inserting an implant into an intervertebral cavity between adjacent vertebral bodies provide for: adjust an initial height between inner surfaces of respective first and second ramps of an inserter; simultaneously sliding first and second ramps of the inserter, and the implant, proximally, toward distal ends of the first and second ramps, such that the vertebral contact surfaces of the respective first and second ramps separate and distract the vertebral bodies and receive the implant into the intervertebral space with no compressive loading, while holding an initial angle between the ramps substantially constant; reversing the sliding of the first and second ramps to permit the vertebral bodies to compressively load the implant, again while holding the initial angle therebetween substantially constant; and withdrawing the distal ends of the first and second ramps from the intervertebral space.

Abstract: A prosthesis includes: a body including a first major surface for engaging an endplate of a first vertebral bone of a spine, a second major surface for engaging an endplate of an adjacent, second vertebral bone of the spine; at least one aperture extending from within the body and opening at the first major surface; at least one anchoring element disposed within the aperture and including a shaft having proximal and distal ends; and a drive mechanism engaging the proximal end of the at least one anchoring element and operating to push the at least one anchoring element out through the at least one aperture and into the first vertebral bone, without rotating the at least one anchoring element about an axis thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting an intervertebral prosthesis within a spine of a mammal includes: a handle disposed at a proximal end of the tool and including a drive nut operating to produce rotational torque in response to user-input about a central axis; a first drive shaft including proximal and distal ends; the proximal end in communication with the drive nut, receiving rotational torque therefrom, and imparting rotational torque to the first drive shaft about a first axis, which is laterally offset from the central axis; and the distal end of the first drive shaft including a first drive head; and a chuck disposed at a distal end of the tool and being sized and shaped to engage the intervertebral prosthesis during implantation, wherein the first drive shaft extends through the chuck and the first drive head engages a first gear of the intervertebral prosthesis, such that rotation of the first gear causes rotation and deployment of a first anchoring element of the intervertebral prosthesis.